Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Explore, Play and Discover
Academic Curriculum
Reception follows a carefully planned curriculum that is delivered each year and is designed to provide the knowledge, skills and experiences children need to be successful learners. Our curriculum is ambitious and progressive, ensuring children build strong foundations across all areas of learning.
Through high-quality interactions, observation and assessment, adults adapt learning to meet children's individual needs, interests and stages of development. This responsive approach allows us to build on children's curiosity, utilise teachable moments and provide appropriate support and challenge, whilst maintaining a clear focus on our intended learning outcomes.
Learning is carefully planned to develop children's communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, early reading, writing and mathematics, alongside a rich range of experiences that promote creativity, exploration and understanding of the world.
Our EYFS curriculum is outlined below.
Spring Term 1 – Wellbeing Week, Superheroes Spring Term 2 – Down on the Farm Summer Term 1 – How does God’s Garden Grow? Summer Term 2 – The Summertime
Phonics & Reading
Children begin their reading journey in Reception through our daily teaching of our systematic synthetic phonics programme, Twinkl Phonics. This progressive approach develops secure phonics knowledge and supports pupils in becoming confident and fluent readers. Parents can find out more by clicking here.
Reading books are carefully matched to each child's phonic knowledge and reading ability, enabling them to practise and apply their skills successfully. Alongside this, we actively promote a love of reading through high-quality texts, story time, class reading and opportunities for reading for pleasure.Statutory Assessment
Throughout Reception, children are assessed through ongoing observations of their learning, development and achievements. At the end of the Reception year, teachers complete the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP), which assesses children's attainment against the Early Learning Goals across the Prime and Specific Areas of Learning.
The EYFSP identifies whether children are meeting the expected level of development in each area and whether they have achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD). This information helps parents, teachers and Year 1 staff understand each child's strengths and next steps, ensuring a smooth transition into Key Stage 1.
Prime and Specific Areas of Learning
The Prime Areas of Learning are the foundations upon which all other learning is built. They include:
- Communication and Language – listening, understanding and speaking.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development – developing confidence, resilience, relationships and self-regulation.
- Physical Development – building gross and fine motor skills, coordination and healthy habits.
The Specific Areas of Learning help children apply and extend the skills developed through the Prime Areas. They include:
- Literacy – reading and writing.
- Mathematics – number, pattern and numerical understanding.
- Understanding the World – learning about people, communities, technology and the natural world.
- Expressive Arts and Design – creating, exploring and expressing ideas through art, music, role play and design.
At the end of Reception, children are assessed against the Early Learning Goals within these areas, and teachers determine whether they have achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD). This helps ensure a smooth transition into Key Stage 1 and identifies each child's strengths and next steps in learning.
How Parents Can Support Learning at Home
Reception: Explore, Play and Discover
You can support your child by:
- Reading and sharing stories every day to develop language, vocabulary and a love of reading.
- Talking together about new experiences, encouraging your child to ask questions and explore the world around them.
- Practising early phonics, counting, number recognition and mark-making through fun, everyday activities.
- Encouraging independence through dressing, tidying away, organising belongings and managing personal needs.
- Playing games, building, creating and exploring together to develop communication, problem-solving and social skills.
- Celebrating effort, perseverance and curiosity, helping your child to develop confidence as a learner.
Curriculum Enrichment
At St Peter's, we believe children learn best through rich, first-hand experiences that inspire curiosity, enquiry and exploration. Our curriculum enrichment programme enhances classroom learning, broadens horizons and develops pupils' cultural capital through a wide range of visits, visitors, events and memorable learning opportunities. Below are some examples for each term.